Molten glass transport system

Abstract

A glass manufacturing system for charging a glass blank mold is disclosed. The glass manufacturing system, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, comprises a glass forming sub-system, including a blank mold having a blank mold loading axis; and a molten glass handling sub-system. The molten glass handling sub-system includes a glass feeder to feed molten glass along a feeder axis, a transport cup to receive molten glass along the feeder axis, and a movable carrier to support the transport cup and carry the transport cup away from the glass feeder and to the blank mold.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A glass manufacturing system, comprising:
 a glass forming sub-system, including:
 a plurality of forming machines, each including a blank mold having a blank mold loading axis; and 
   a molten glass handling sub-system including:
 a glass feeder to feed molten glass along a feeder axis; 
 a transport cup to receive molten glass along the feeder axis; 
 a movable carrier to support the transport cup and carry the transport cup away from the feeder axis to the blank mold loading axis; and 
 a plurality of adjacent gantries, each carrying at least two movable carriers and being configured to move the at least two movable carriers back and forth from the glass feeder to the plurality of forming machines of the glass forming sub-system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the transport cup comprises at least one of graphite, graphene, platinum, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, or beryllium oxide. 
     
     
         3 . The system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least two movable carriers of the molten glass handling sub-system support a plurality of transport cups, each of which is carried on a respective movable carrier, and wherein the movable carriers of the plurality of movable carriers move independently of one another. 
     
     
         4 . The system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the at least two movable carriers include a cooling medium configured to provide cooling. 
     
     
         5 . The system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of adjacent gantries includes a plurality of vertically adjacent gantries, each of the plurality of vertically adjacent gantries carrying the at least two movable carriers and being configured to move the at least two movable carriers back and forth from the glass feeder to the plurality of forming machines. 
     
     
         6 . The system set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cup treatment device including:
 a treatment application device; and 
 a nozzle coupled to the treatment application device. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of adjacent gantries includes a plurality of laterally adjacent gantries, each of the plurality of laterally adjacent gantries carrying at least two movable carriers, which are pivotably movable, and being configured to move the at least two movable carriers back and forth from the glass feeder to the plurality of forming machines. 
     
     
         8 . The system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of adjacent gantries includes a plurality of laterally adjacent gantries, each of the plurality of laterally adjacent gantries carrying at least two movable carriers, which are translatable, and being configured to move the at least two movable carriers back and forth from the glass feeder to the plurality of forming machines. 
     
     
         9 . The system set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the at least two movable carriers on each of the plurality of laterally adjacent gantries are translatable in a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         10 . The system set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the at least two movable carriers on each of the plurality of laterally adjacent gantries are translatable in a vertical plane. 
     
     
         11 . The system set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the at least two movable carriers on each of the plurality of laterally adjacent gantries are translatable in at least one of an x-y plane, a y-z plane, or an x-z plane. 
     
     
         12 . The system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the glass forming sub-system also includes a plurality of forming machines, and wherein the plurality of adjacent gantries are laterally adjacent. 
     
     
         13 . The system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the glass forming sub-system also includes a plurality of forming machines, and wherein the molten glass handling sub-system further includes a dedicated path for carrying the movable carrier back and forth from the glass feeder over top of the plurality of forming machines. 
     
     
         14 . The system set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the dedicated path is configured in an oval or figure eight layout in at least one of a horizontal or a vertical arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the transport cup includes a sleeve having an open upper end that receive the molten glass, and a cup opener disposed under the sleeve to retain the molten glass in the transport cup and to release the molten glass from the transport cup. 
     
     
         16 . The system set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the sleeve and the cup opener carries a heat-resistant material to contact the molten glass and including at least one of graphite, graphene, platinum, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, or beryllium oxide. 
     
     
         17 . A method for transporting molten glass, comprising:
 receiving molten glass from a glass feeder along a feeder axis into a first transport cup, wherein the first transport cup is supported by a first movable carrier, and the first movable carrier is supported by a first gantry that is configured to move the first movable carrier back and forth from the glass feeder to a plurality of forming machines;   transporting the first movable carrier to bring the first transport cup over a first blank mold having a first blank mold loading axis;   receiving molten glass from a glass feeder along a feeder axis into a second transport cup, wherein the second transport cup is supported by a second movable carrier, and the second movable carrier is supported by a second gantry that is adjacent to the first gantry and is configured to move the second movable carrier back and forth from the glass feeder to the plurality of forming machines;   dispensing the molten glass from the first transport cup into the first blank mold along the first blank mold loading axis;   transporting the second movable carrier to bring the second transport cup over a second blank mold having a second blank mold loading axis;   returning the first movable carrier to the glass feeder for reloading the first transport cup;   dispensing the molten glass from the second transport cup into the second blank mold along the second blank mold loading axis; and   returning the second movable carrier to the glass feeder for reloading the second transport cup.